NANTWICH and Alsager are locked in a two-way fight for promotion from Division One.
Although an official announcement is yet to be made, FA officials are almost certain to rule that three teams will go up from Division One this season.
With leaders Skelmersdale guaranteed a spot in the top trio, and red-hot Cammell Laird virtually assured with six games in hand, the final spot is up for grabs.
The Bullets have occupied the upper-reaches for most of the campaign, but have wilted badly in recent weeks. While a 2-1 win at Atherton LR steadied the ship in midweek, a 3-1 defeat at Curzon Ashton on Saturday, and a dramatic 2-2 draw at Silsden on Monday have rocked their hopes.
In contrast, the Dabbers are on the crest of a wave. They bounced back from a disappointing 1-1 midweek draw with Congleton to beat Formby 3-0 and Silsden 2-0, stretching their unbeaten league run to 12 games.
Now Alsager hope to pile on the pressure with a win over Bacup Borough at the Town Ground on Saturday, while the Dabbers contest the FA Vase final.
Maximum points would mean Steve Davis and his men need nine points from three away games next week, at Congleton, Bacup and Salford, to pip Alsager on goal difference.
Both managers agree it looks set to go to the wire. Davis said: 'I told the players I didn't want to lose any of the 12 games in April. It was a big ask but they have done well.
'We have given ourselves a chance of a top-three finish, and we will just have to take it a game at a time.'
Bullets boss Greg Clowes said: 'We just have to make sure we get three points on Saturday and put Nantwich under real pressure. If they can win three away games on the trot then they deserve it.' The chaotic fixture list ensures plenty of excitement at this stage of the season. While leading 1-0 over Congleton through a Murray McCulloch effort, the Dabbers players were visibly shaken up by a serious head injury to Danny Griggs and conceded a late equaliser.
Play had been stopped for 30 minutes while an ambulance arrived to take Griggs to hospital. Amazingly, he has since made a full recovery.
On Thursday, goals from Jamie Marrow, Adam Beasley and Andy Kinsey eased them to victory at Formby, before Marrow and Kinsey struck again to see off Silsden.
A far more turbulent time has left Alsager reeling. Ryan Dicker and Steve Elkes struck to overcome Atherton LR, but an Elks effort was overshadowed at Curzon.
On Monday, their injury-time jinx struck again. Second-half goals from Richard Mitchell and Chris Budrys seemed to have clinched the victory, despite Wayne Brotherton failing to
convert from the penalty spot.
But Andy Holden pulled one back in the 90th minute and David Hird levelled matters in the fifth minute of injury time, bringing back painful memories of Cammell Laird's winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time earlier this month.
But Clowes added: 'I have been disappointed with the form over the previous four or five games, but I was proud to be manager again on Monday.
'The lads responded well and it was unfortunate they let it slip at the end. They were very, very low afterwards but I told them we have to keep going.'
Nantwich Town reserves enjoyed two wins in three days. On Saturday goals from Ross Willington and Pete Murphy (3) earned a 4-2 win at Nelson. On Monday Scott Beasley (3), Ash Lawton, Gareth Mitchell, Dan Blythen, Rob Adlington and an own goal secured an 8-0 success over Bacup Borough reserves.
